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The novel, widespread coronavirus pandemic has forced a complete shift in the daily lifestyle for Americans – many are under quarantine, nightly curfews, and are learning how to work from home. Despite these inconveniences, horse people have additional worries – how are they going to properly care for their horses during the virus? Many riding stables are closed to tenants and all equine events have been canceled in an effort to reduce the virus’s spread. Due to these closures, many horses are not receiving regular workout schedules, or maybe no exercise at all. Many are either being turned out for several weeks or are kept inside the barn. While daily lifestyles are difficult for all during this pandemic, adapting a horse’s schedule to a life of quarantine can be equally as challenging. Below, we provide tips on how to keep your horse (and the barn) has healthy as possible.
The grass during the spring is notorious for being lush, green, and high in calories. Horses that are turned out are more than eager to feast on the sweet grass after a long, cold, winter. The additional grass sugars, coupled with a lack of workouts, can create excitable, high-energy horses that may prove difficult to manage for the barn hands. To combat the lush grass issue, consider an alternative turnout schedule. Have the horse stalled during the day and let it out to pasture at night when the grass’s sugar content is not as high. A grazing muzzle is another great option that can limit the amount of feed a horse consumes when it is grazing.
When a horse does not receive regular exercise, it does not require as much feed as it would during a heavy competition schedule. With fewer workouts, a horse will need less caloric intake as it is not using as much energy. Gradually decrease your horse’s feed to a smaller amount yet still feed the minimum daily amount recommended on the feed label. If you find yourself feeding less than the recommended amount, consider a low-calorie feed that is fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, such as a ration balancer. Excel Equine® ’s Enrichment® is a ration balancer that can be fed in amounts of 1-3 pounds daily and provides all the vitamins and minerals that are present within complete feeds. Also consider reducing a horse’s starch intake; a horse that consumes less starches is calmer and less excitable. Our Carbolyte® feed is ideal for easy keepers as it provides essential vitamins and minerals in a formula with reduced caloric and starch content. However, it is best to focus on forage; provide your horse with ample hay and supplement appropriately with grain.
If you are unable to feed your horse due to barn closures, consider making mealtimes easier for the appointed feeder by clearly organizing your horse’s feeding needs. Where is the grain located? How much is the horse receiving – is it less than usual due to reduced exercise? Consider also temporarily removing nonessential supplements from a horse’s diet to make dinner time less complicated. Have all changes posted clearly in the feed room.
Many local riding stables have limited public access to their operations, refusing to let customers or owners onto their property. This is an effort to reduce the amount of lesson customers and general foot traffic in the stable, only allowing those who care for the horses to visit. Other farms, however, are allowing access to a very limited amount of people to the barn areas. Some stables have created a schedule where clients can reserve time slots for their visits, reducing the amount of people in the barn by only allowing 3-4 people present at once. Those inside the barn area may be required to wear gloves or face masks to reduce the risk of spreading germs. Practice safe social distancing by limiting those in the barn aisle and tack room – only allow 1-2 people in these areas at once. If you are a trainer, only give private riding lessons as to reduce the number of people in your barn at once. Take the temperature of those present in the barn and do not allow anybody to come if they feel sick.
The lack of competitions and contact with horses can be discouraging to many. However, with careful planning and preparation, your horse can survive a quarantine lifestyle just the same as us.
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